Dallas Mavericks-Denver Nuggets: Starting lineups, predictions, odds for in-season game
The Denver Nuggets begin a four-game home stand Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks. Both teams are off to a strong start in the first weeks of the 2023-24 NBA season.
This is the first of three games this season between the Mavericks and Nuggets. The Nuggets host Dallas Friday and will again on Monday, Dec. 3. It also marks the very first in-season tournament group game for both teams.
The Nuggets are 4-1 thanks to their 110-89 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier this week. Prior to that, Denver rattled off four straight wins, most recently a 110-102 win over the visiting Utah Jazz.
That win over the Jazz saw two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic notch his 107th career triple-double with 27 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds. That career mark ties him with LeBron James and Jason Kidd for fourth all-time.
“It speaks to his greatness, it speaks to his consistency, night in and night out playing the game at an extremely high level,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “The one thing you can compare LeBron and Nikola with is the ability to make everyone around them better. That is the definition of greatness.”
The Mavericks are 4-0 for the first time since the 2004-05 season after wins against San Antonio, Brooklyn, Memphis, and Chicago. This is just the fourth 4-0 start to a season in franchise history.
Guard Luka Doncic leads the NBA at 33.8 points per game so far. He's notched two triple-doubles already in the wins against the Spurs and Grizzlies.
“He draws all that attention and allows guys like us to play 4 on 4, 4 on 3 sometimes," Mavericks forward Grant Williams said after the win over Chicago. “It’s difficult to say he wasn’t super-human because passing out of double teams and those plays for us still were incredible."
The two Western Conference teams meet Friday night at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. Tip-off is set for 10:00 p.m., ET, on ESPN and the ESPN app.
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NBA starting lineups: Nuggets vs. Mavericks
These are the likely starting lineups, according to RotoWire.
Mavericks
Player | Position |
Luka Doncic | Point Guard |
Shooting Guard | |
Grant Williams | Small Forward |
Power Forward | |
Center |
Nuggets
Player | Position |
Point Guard | |
Shooting Guard | |
Small Forward | |
Power Forward | |
Nikola Jokic | Center |
Champions honored: Jokic and the Nuggets receive rings, watch championship banner raised before tipping off season
NBA injury news: Nuggets vs. Mavericks
Mavericks:
Player | Position | Injury | Status |
PF | Illness | Questionable | |
PF | Hamstring | Expected to be out until at least Nov 5 |
Nuggets:
Player | Position | Injury | Status |
Jamal Murray | PG | Quad | Game Time Decision |
Nikola Jokic | C | Back | Game Time Decision |
SG | Lower leg | Game Time Decision | |
Vlatko Cancar | SF | Knee | Expected to be out until at least April 1, 2024 |
NBA Odds: The Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets lines, betting odds
The Nuggets are favored to hand the Mavericks their first loss of the season, per odds from BetMGM Sportsbook.
Spread: Nuggets (-5.5)
Moneyline: Nuggets (-225); Mavericks (+185)
Over/under: 227.5
Mavericks at Nuggets predictions
Sportsbook Wire: Nuggets 113, Mavericks 106
Seth Orlemann writes, "while the Mavericks have been impressive to start the season, with Doncic averaging a near triple-double... expect a bounce-back game from the Nuggets in front of their home crowd."
Sports Illustrated: Denver wins but Dallas covers
Michael Mulford thinks "Dallas is the last standing undefeated team in the Western Conference following Denver's loss on Wednesday, but the Nuggets are looking to even the playing field tonight. Take Dallas +6.5 to cover the spread but Denver to win the game."
ESPN: Nuggets have a 59.8% chance to end the Mavericks' win streak
ESPN Analytics rates the Nuggets higher on the site's Basketball Power Index (BPI) and the Nuggets were a 34-7 at home last year, second-best in the NBA. With that, the site's picking Denver to get a win against the hot-starting Mavericks.
Winners and Whiners: Mavericks +6.5
Staff writers say to take "Dallas to cover, with Denver coming off a blowout loss and dealing with injuries to stars Murray and Jokic. The Mavs have the third-highest schedule-adjusted offensive rating, including the fourth-highest effective field goal percentage (58.2%). They have been especially dominant in the paint (67.7 rim FG%) and from three-point range (41.0%)."
How to watch Nuggets vs. Mavericks: TV and streaming
When: Nov. 3 at 10:00 p.m., ET
Where: Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado
Cable TV: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app, NBA League Pass, FuboTV
Stream the game: Catch the latest NBA action on FuboTV
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets: Lineups, odds, and predictions
